Apparatus for collecting fluid during a medical or surgical operation and a manifold

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is disclosed for collecting fluid during a medical or a surgical operation. The apparatus can include positions for collection containers, a pressure sensor and a manifold having a housing, at least one port for connecting to a patient, more than one port for collection container tubes extending from the manifold to a collection container and a by-pass channel for connecting to the pressure sensor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for collecting fluidduring a medical or surgical operation. The present invention alsorelates to a manifold.

In the known apparatuses, negative pressure produced by a vacuum pump ismeasured from a channel leading negative pressure to a collectioncontainer. In other words, the negative pressure is measured between thecollection container and the vacuum pump. A problem related to thismeasurement is that the measurement does not give any information aboutreal negative pressure exerted to the suction site. Further, themeasurement is insensitive to a blockage between the patient port andregulated negative pressure connected to the collection container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a new type of a solution. Theinvention is characterized by the features of the independent claims.Some embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.

In the apparatus according to the invention, it is possible to measurenegative pressure at the port for connecting a patient. The measurementcan be done without contaminating the measurement sensor or theapparatus. The measured value can be used further to detect a blockagein the apparatus.

The main use of the apparatus is to collect fluid from the patient butthe apparatus can be used to collect fluid from the operating site ingeneral, e.g. from the floor of the operating theatre. The apparatus forcollecting fluid from a patient may comprise a one-piece structure or atwo-piece structure. The two-piece structure comprises a control unitand a movable cart. The control unit and the movable cart are attachableto each other, i.e. when the surgical operation is going on and liquidis collected from the patient, the control unit and the cart areattached together by a locking means. After and before the operation thecontrol unit and the movable cart can be used as separate units. Atleast the cart is movable and may have, for example, wheels but also thecontrol unit may be movable and it may have wheels as well. The cartincludes parts which are in contact with the collected liquid and thus,the movable cart improves the work flow between patients. One can usemore than one interchangeable movable cart with the control unit andchange the used cart to a cleaned one before a new patient.

The apparatus for collecting liquid from a patient may have an externalvacuum source, i.e. the apparatus exploits, for example, the vacuumsystem of the hospital, or the apparatus may have an internal vacuumsource, i.e. the apparatus has its own vacuum source, such as a vacuumpump. The internal vacuum source is preferably located in the controlunit. The vacuum of the collection containers is regulated by internalvacuum regulators which are preferably located in the control unit.

The control unit and the movable cart are attached to each other byusing connection plates. The vacuum lines between the control unit andthe movable cart are automatically connected at the same time as well asthe electrical connections between the control unit and the cart. Theplates are drawn to each other by using negative pressure, i.e. vacuum.There is a separate valve for that operation. The valve is turned onwhen the control unit and the movable cart are sensed to be together,i.e. the valve is only turn on if the movable cart docks with thecontrol unit and a locking means connecting the control unit and themovable cart is on.

The movable cart comprises positions for collection containers insidewhich the liquid flows. The collection containers may be disposablecollection liners and they may be used with canisters inside which theyare assembled. However, it is also possible that there are no collectionliners and the liquid flows directly in the canisters, i.e. the canisteris the collection container. The collection containers may be connectedto one or more independent suction channels. Usually the apparatuscomprises at least two independent suction channels.

The manifold comprises a housing, ports for patient tubes and ports forcollection container tubes. The patient tube leads from the suction siteor the operating site to the manifold and the collection container tubeleads from the manifold to the collection container. Each port forconnecting a patient is provided with a no-return valve which may be athin plastic tube surrounding the port inside the housing. The plastictube is open only when the pressure inside it is higher than around it.

Each port for the collection container tube may be provided with avalve. The valve may comprise, for example, a cylinder and a rotatablebar within each other. The cylinder may be provided with a hole and therotatable bar may have a notch. When the bar is rotated the valve closesor opens depending on the fact whether the hole and the notch are on thesame line, i.e. the port opens when the notch is parallel to the holeand the port shuts off when the notch is divergent to the hole.According to another alternative, the valve may comprise two cylindersprovided with holes within each other. When the holes are on the sameline the valve is open and when the holes are not on the same line thevalve is closed.

The rotatable bar or the innermost cylinder may comprise at its end aform to which an actuator, such as a motor, grips. Each valve has anactuator which rotates the valves according to the parameters entered bythe user. Thus, each valve is individually operable, i.e. the valve canbe opened or closed individually.

When liquid is collected from the patient a tube is connected to thepatient tube port and the collection container tube is connected to theport for the collection container tube. The liquid enters first to thehousing of the manifold and after that it flows through an open port toa collection container.

When the suction is interrupted there is a possibility that fluidremains in the collection container tube. Further, negative pressurecontinues to prevail in the collection container. Therefore, themanifold may comprise by-pass channels in the ports for the collectioncontainer tubes. The aim of the channel is to remove fluid which remainsin the collection container tube when the suction is interrupted andreturn the atmospheric pressure in the tube and in the collectioncontainer, i.e. the tube and the collection container reach the samepressure which prevails outside the apparatus. The channel, which opensto the outside of the port of the collection container tube, is openonly when the port is closed.

The manifold may also comprise a by-pass channel in the housing of themanifold. There is a gasket between the housing and the channel. Thenegative pressure prevailing in the manifold can be measured from thatchannel by connecting the channel to a pressure sensor. The advantage ofthis measuring system is that liquid or aerosol in the housing of themanifold cannot penetrate into the channel although the manifoldcontains fluid and humid air and pressure in the manifold changes. Theshape of the manifold is designed in such a manner that the by-passchannel is not hit by the fluid flow. The above-mentioned detail may beaccomplished by protecting the mouth of the by-pass channel by at leastone wall, preferably two walls on both sides of the mouth. A no-returnvalve may secure that liquid or aerosol are kept away from the channelin the case when pressure inside the manifold is higher than pressure inthe by-pass channel. The measured negative pressure shows the pressureexerted to the patient. Further, it indicates together with flowmeasurement if there is a blockage in the system.

The by-pass channel may be choked and in contact with the atmosphericpressure. The choked contact to the atmospheric pressure guarantees thatpressure in the measurement channel follows changes of the negativepressure in the manifold.

The manifold may be provided with an electronic identification system.For example, the electronic identification system may be an RFID tagcomprising identification information about the manifold. The RFID tagcomprises an integrated circuit containing the identificationinformation and an antenna. The RFID tag is read with a reader and theinformation obtained from the reader controls the apparatus. If theidentification information shows that the manifold is new the operationof the apparatus is allowable. If the identification information showsthat the manifold has been used in the same operation the operation ofthe apparatus is also allowable. The above-mentioned case is possible,for example, if the manifold is unintentionally disconnected, or themanifold is transferred from one collection container to the other inorder to increase capacity. Further, the manifold may be transferredfrom one suction channel of the apparatus to another suction channel ofthe apparatus during the same operation, or the manifold may betransferred from one cart to another cart used with the same controlunit during the same operation. In both above-mentioned cases theoperation of the apparatus is allowable. If the identificationinformation shows that the manifold has been used before but not in thesame operation the operation of the apparatus is prevented. However, ifthere are more than one suction channel in the apparatus other suctionchannels continue to function except the suction channel having theunacceptable manifold.

The collection liner may comprise a bag portion and a rigid handle. Thebag portion is made of a flexible plastic material. The bag portion maybe formed of a tubular plastic film. One end of the plastic film, i.e.the bottom of the bag portion, is closed by sealing the edges of theplastic film together, while at its other end the tubular plastic filmis fixedly fastened e.g. by welding to the handle in such a manner thatthe bag portion forms a closed space with the handle.

The bottom of the bag portion may have a dual seam in such a manner thatthere are two seams having a distance between each other. An opening canbe formed between the two seams, thereby forming an ancillary handle forhelping to lift the collection liner. The opening can be, for example, ahole or a slit.

The ancillary handle enhances the possibility to lift the collectionliner with both hands, i.e. one can take a grip with one hand from thehandle and with the other hand from the ancillary handle. This propertyis important because the volume of the collection liner may be large.

The handle comprises the inlets that are necessary for the operation ofthe suction process. The handle may be a bar from which the collectionliner is comfortable to lift. There are inlets for vacuum and acollection container tube in the bar. The inlets advance inside the barand branch from the bar, thus advancing into the bag portion. The inletfor the vacuum has a lateral branch which is a channel for transmittingnegative pressure outside the collection liner. Further, there may be anadditional inlet in the handle for solidifying agent. The termsolidifying agent is used throughout this text according to the main usebut the inlet can be used to introduce any other chemical additive, suchas a disinfectant or an anticoagulant.

All the inlets are secured so that the fluid inside the collection linercannot leak out from it when the collection liner is removed. The inletsmay be secured in such a manner that each inlet is provided with a backflow preventing means, i.e. a back flow preventing device. There may bea hydrophobic filter in the vacuum interface of the liner. The filterprevents fluid to advance into the vacuum tubing of the apparatus. Thehydrophobic filter is made of a material which swells if the liquidmeets the filter, thus blocking the flow.

The inlet for the liquid collected from a patient, i.e. the inlet forthe collection container tube, may be provided with a no-return valve.The no-return valve may be a tube made of a thin plastic film. The tubesurrounds the mouth of the inlet and it is fastened at the one end tothe inlet and the other end is open. The thin plastic tube is open onlywhen the pressure inside the tube is higher than around it.

The inlet of the solidifying agent, if it exists in the collectionliner, may be provided with the same kind of no-return valve as theinlet for the collection container tube.

The collection liner may be used with a canister provided with anopenable lid. The lid is hinged to the canister. The collection liner isplaced inside the canister in such a manner that the vacuum is connectedto the canister interior and the inlet for the collection container tubeextends over the upper edge of the canister. After the collection lineris in its place in the canister, the lid of the canister is closed.

The lid comprises a gasket which seals the lid against the edge of thecanister and the handle of the collection liner. The gasket may be aseparate gasket or it may be an integral part of the lid, i.e. the lidis made of a material which is suitable for sealing, or the lid and thegasket are formed at the same time of different materials. In order tosecure the lid in its place there is also a locking means which keepsthe lid closed. As the inlet of the collection container tube extendsover the edge of the canister, the inlet remains outside the canisterwhen the lid is closed. Thus, the connection tube is not required to bedisconnected from the liner while the collection liner is removed fromthe canister. The connection tube can be disconnected from its otherend. The handle of the collection liner may have a site for connectingthe disconnected end of the tube. Thus, if there are fluid drops in thetube they cannot leak out because both ends of the tube are closed.

The canisters may be connected to the cart via docking. The dockingprovides the mechanical mounting, the locking and the pneumaticconnections between the cart and the canister. When the canister isunlocked the use of the canister is prevented.

In normal use, the liquid volume is detected by measuring the weight ofthe collection container. As the system detects the weight of thecontainer, the container is not filled up to the level of vacuum inletinside the liner preventing the hydrophobic filter getting in contactwith liquid and therefore, the collection liner and the canister haveessentially the same pressure level.

The collection liner engages to the negative pressure through a port inthe canister, i.e. there is a connection provided with a gasket throughthe canister wall. The port may be provided with a flow meter. Togetherwith the pressure measured from the manifold, the flow meter revealsreliably if there is a blockage in the system. If there is no flow orthe flow value is under the predetermined range and the pressuremeasured from the manifold is higher than the regulated pressure thereis a blockage in the apparatus, i.e. the absolute value of negativepressure is significantly lower in the manifold than the pressure led tothe collection container. The pressure led to the collection containermeans the pressure that is intended to be used during the operation. Inother words, if there is a weak flow and a poor suction there is ablockage. Accordingly, if there is a high flow and no significantnegative pressure in the manifold but negative pressure led to thecollection container is on or below a normal level, there is a leak inthe apparatus.

In practice, a first pressure sensor measures a first pressure valuewhich corresponds to the pressure value inside the manifold. A secondpressure sensor measures a second pressure value in a channel leadingnegative pressure to the collection containers. The pressure differenceof the first pressure value and the second pressure value is calculated.

The flow value has a predetermined range for each pressure difference.If the flow value is under the predetermined range compared to thepredetermined range corresponding the pressure difference in questionthere is a blockage. If the flow value is over the predetermined rangecompared to the predetermined range corresponding the pressuredifference in question there is a leak.

The control system of the apparatus may give an alarm and the display ofthe apparatus may show instructions for removing the blockage or theleakage. Further, it is possible to check the condition of thehydrophobic filter of the collection liner by measuring regulatednegative pressure, negative pressure value in the manifold and the flowvalue. Thus, it is possible to predict clogging of the filter.

The canister or the cart may be provided with an optical indicationmeans. The optical indication means may be illumination of the canister.Each canister may be provided with an illumination device. For example,a LED stripe may be fastened, preferably vertically, on a separationwall of the cart behind the canister. The illumination may be turned onwhen the canister is in use, or all canisters which are used during anoperation may be illuminated. The intensity of the illumination mayadjustable at each canister, or the illumination may be switched on/offat each canister. Alternatively, the optical indication means may be afilm whose transparency can be changed, thereby showing the liquid onlywhen desired. The film may be, for example, a film whose transparencychanges when electricity is led to the film.

The collection containers have their predetermined positions in themovable cart. Each container is weighed during the suction to follow theamount of the collected liquid and the liquid inside the collectioncontainer. The amount of liquid that the collection container is allowedto receive is given beforehand, i.e. the user of the apparatus canchoose how much liquid may enter into the collection container. Thesuction stops concerning the collection container in question when thepredetermined amount has been reached. The suction and the consequentflow of fluid are directed automatically from the collection containerwhich has reached the predetermined weight to another collectioncontainer. The change from the previous collection container to thefollowing collection container takes place by closing the valve of themanifold through which the fluid has flown to the previous collectioncontainer and opening the valve of the manifold through which the fluidis going to flow to the following collection container.

The weighing can be made, for example, by using strain gauge transducersinstalled under the positions of the collection containers. Theelectrical resistance of the strain gauge transducer varies due to theload that is exerted to the transducer. On the basis of the resistancethe weight of the collection container can be determined. There is anirrigation pole integrated to the control unit and a weighing unitreceiving information from the weighing, i.e. the weighing unit measuresthe weight loss of the irrigation bag or bags if there are more than onebag hanging from the irrigation pole. Thereby one can obtain informationabout the amount of liquid that has been transferred to the operatingsite and the amount of liquid collected and thus, it is possible tocalculate the liquid deficit. This information may have a clinicalvalue. The weighing gives reliable results since the collectioncontainers have a floating connection to the cart, i.e. the collectioncontainers can move freely in respect of the cart. The collectioncontainers are laterally supported but the weight of each containerrests on the strain gauge transducer which is situated under thecollection container.

The cart comprises a position for a cartridge and a reservoir containingsolidifying agent. The vacuum in the collection container is used tomove the solidifying agent from the reservoir to the collectioncontainer.

According to one alternative, the solidifying agent is fed in smalldoses into the collection container, i.e. the collection liner or thecollection canister, during the suction process. The feeding process isautomatic and it can be programmed so that a portion of the solidifyingagent is fed, for example, after every half liter, on the surface of theliquid in the collection container. The system is useful, among others,in that that the liquid in the collection container solidifies as itflows inside the container. Further, the use of the solidifying agent ismore precise and more effective compared to the known systems becausethe amount of the solidifying agent is in proportion with the amount ofthe collected liquid.

The solidifying agent is inside the cartridge in such a manner that auser does not have to be in touch with the solidifying agent. The userjust checks visually from outside whether there is enough solidifyingagent in the reservoir and if not, she or he changes the cartridge for afull one. The cartridges are only for a single use. As the cartridge isput in its place in the movable cart the cartridge is openedautomatically. The control unit monitors the amount of the solidifyingagent dosages given from the cartridge and requests a new cartridge whenrequired, i.e. the control unit detects the misuse of the apparatus. Thecartridges may have radio frequency identification tags (RFID tags) ontheir surface and the control unit may identify the cartridges accordingto the identification information of the tags.

In practice, the cycle to form a portion of the solidifying agent may beas follows: There are at least three valves regulating the formation ofthe solidifying agent portion, namely the first valve, the second valveand the third valve. The first valve is the nearest valve to thecollection container. The second valve exists between the first and thethird valve. Between the second valve and the third valve there is thesolidifying agent cartridge which opens via the reservoir into a tubeleading to the collection container. In the beginning the first valveand the third valve are shut. The second valve is partially open. Whenthe first valve is opened the vacuum starts to draw the solidifyingagent out of the reservoir so that a portion of the solidifying agent isformed between the second valve and the third valve. In the next step,the first valve and the third valve are open and the second valve isstill partially open. Air flows from the third valve which stops theflow of the solidifying agent and compacts the portion of thesolidifying agent against the second valve.

In the following step all the valves are open. The portion of thesolidifying agent is shot then into the collection container, thussolidifying the liquid in the collection container. After the portion isshot, the second valve and the third valve are closed in such a mannerthat the second valve remains half open as in the beginning of theprocess. The first valve is also eventually closed and the cycle to formthe portion of the solidifying agent starts all over again.

Instead of the three valves described above, there may be a batchingscrew and valves, preferably two of them, for forming and releasing thedosage of the solidifying agent.

According to another alternative, the solidifying agent can be fed asloose powder without forming the above-mentioned compact dosage. The aimof this alternative is to distribute powder from the reservoir into thecollection liner at known speed, i.e. certain amount of powder shall bereleased into the collection liner in certain time. The solidifyingagent may be released, among others, after a certain volume of liquid isreceived in the collection container, after the collection container isfull, after all the collection containers of the suction channel inquestion are full, the cart must be changed, or once the operation iscompleted. The suction process is interrupted during the discharge ofthe solidifying agent.

There are at least two valves, namely a liner valve and an air valve,which take part in giving out the solidifying agent. The liner valve isnear to the collection container. The reservoir receiving solidifyingagent from the cartridge is between the air valve and the liner valve.The pipe of the solidifying agent pipeline, which passes through thereservoir, may work as an ejector. The pipe may have an opening throughwhich air flow grabs the solidifying agent. The opening is preferably onthe underside of the pipe because under the pipe the powder is loose andeasily movable. The lower part of the reservoir may be an inverted conethrough which the pipe passes.

The liner valve and the air valve are open when the solidifying agent isdistributed. The solidifying agent pipeline is in contact with ambientair through the air valve and it is in contact with vacuum through theliner valve. The pipe beyond the air valve may be choked in order toadjust the balance between ambient air and powder flowing in the pipe.

There may be a flush valve between the reservoir and the liner valve.The flush valve is opened at the end of the powder distribution when theair valve has been closed. The aim of the flush valve is that the flushvalve opens access to ambient air and the air flow cleans the pipe fromthe powder residuals.

The port of the collection container tube in the manifold must be closedwhen the powder is distributed. In other words, the valve of the port ofthe collection container tube is closed.

The condition of the hydrophobic filter is important in this processbecause it may cause higher flow resistance than assumed. There may be aby-pass pipe provided with a choke in the collection container tube. Theby-pass pipe is in contact with ambient air and it can be used toevaluate the condition of the hydrophobic filter of the collectionliner. According to another alternative, the condition of thehydrophobic filter can be checked before the operation by using knownparameters, i.e. pressure, air volume inside the collection containerand response time to pressure changes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the solution will be described in greater detail bymeans of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings,in which

FIGS. 1a and 1b show an apparatus for collecting liquid from a patientin a perspective view;

FIGS. 2a and 2b show a vacuum connection between a control unit and amovable cart in a perspective view;

FIGS. 3a and 3b show a manifold in a perspective view;

FIGS. 3c and 3d show partial magnifications of the manifold of FIG. 3 b;

FIGS. 4a and 4b show a collection liner in a cross sectional view;

FIG. 4c shows a handle of a collection liner in a perspective view;

FIGS. 5a and 5b show a collection liner and a canister in a perspectiveview;

FIGS. 6a and 6b show a partial magnification of a collection liner and acanister in a perspective view;

FIG. 6c shows a partial magnification of a canister from inside;

FIGS. 7a to 7c show an apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient ina perspective view;

FIGS. 7d to 7g show partial magnifications of details in the apparatusof FIGS. 7a to 7 c;

FIG. 8a shows a schematic view of a system for feeding solidifyingagent;

FIG. 8b shows a schematic view of another system for feeding solidifyingagent;

FIG. 8c shows a detail of FIG. 8b as a cross-sectional view;

FIG. 9 shows schematically a graphical user interface for an apparatusfor collecting liquid from a patient;

FIG. 10 shows an example of a graphical user interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1a shows an apparatus 1 for collecting liquid from a patient. Thecollection liner 21 may be used, for example, in this apparatus. Theapparatus 1 comprises a control unit 2 and a movable cart 3. The controlunit 2 comprises a display unit 4, proportional valves 53 to controlvacuum in the collection containers and valves 54 for collectioncontainer vacuum interfaces. The display unit 4 may comprise a touchscreen acting both for displaying and for entering control parameters.The display unit 4 may be located on an arm 5 which turns around, i.e.the arm 5 allows the display to tilt and turn. On the movable cart 3there are manifolds 6. Valves of the manifolds 6 are operated bysuitable actuators, such as motors 7. The movable cart 3 comprisescanisters 9 for collecting liquid, and a cartridge 8 a and a reservoir 8b for a solidifying agent.

FIG. 1b shows one variation of the apparatus 1 described in connectionwith FIG. 1 a.

FIG. 2a shows how vacuum and electrical couplings are made between thecontrol unit 2 and the movable cart 3 in the apparatus 1. The controlunit 2 and the movable cart 3 are attached to each other by usingconnection plates 40, 41. The vacuum lines 42 between the control unit 2and the movable cart 3 are automatically connected at the same time. Theplates 40, 41 are drawn to each other by negative pressure controlled bysoftware via a dedicated valve connected between the plates through line43. The valve connected to the line 43 is turned on when the controlunit 2 and the movable cart 3 are sensed to be together. Thus, the valveis only turn on if the movable cart 3 docks with the control unit 2 anda locking means, which locks the control unit 2 and the movable cart 3together, is on. The plates 40, 41 may be used as a mounting and anactuator for the electrical coupling 55 between the control unit 2 andthe movable cart 3. There are also a gasket 45 and gaskets 46 around thevacuum lines 42.

FIG. 2b shows another view how vacuum and electrical couplings are madebetween the control unit 2 and the movable cart 3 in the apparatus 1.The functioning of the system is basically the same as described inconnection with FIG. 2 a.

FIG. 3a shows a manifold 6 in the apparatus 1. The manifold 6 comprisesa housing 10, patient ports 11 for connecting a patient tube and ports12 for collection containers. In FIG. 3a , one of the ports 12 isprovided with a coupling 13 for a collection container tube in order toillustrate the use of the coupling 13. There are also caps 14 forclosing the patient ports 11. Each patient port 11 is provided with ano-return valve. In practice, there is a thin plastic tube surroundingthe patient port 11 inside the housing 10. The plastic tube is open onlywhen the pressure inside the thin plastic tube is higher than around it.

Each port 12 is provided with a valve 15. The valve 15 comprises acylinder 16 provided with a hole in which is a rotatable bar having a Ushaped notch in its head. When the bar is rotated the valve 15 closes oropens depending on the fact whether the hole and the notch are on thesame line, i.e. the port 12 opens when the notch is parallel to the holeand the port shuts off when the notch is divergent to the hole.Alternatively, the valve 15 may comprise two cylinders provided withholes within each other. When the holes of the cylinders are on the sameline the valve 15 is open.

The rotatable bar comprises a form 17 to which an axle of an actuator,such as a motor 7, grips. Each valve 15 has an actuator which rotatesthe valves 15 according to the parameters entered by the user.

When liquid is collected from the patient a tube is connected to thepatient port 11 and the collection container tube is connected to theport 12 by the coupling 13. The fluid enters first to the housing 10 andafter that it flows through one port 12 which is open to a collectioncontainer.

After the suction is interrupted there is a possibility that liquidremains in the collection container tube. Further, negative pressurecontinues to prevail in the tube and in the collection container. Inorder to remove the fluid in the tube and return the atmosphericpressure in the collection container, the manifold 6 may compriseby-pass channels 18 in the ports 12 for the collection container tubes.The channel 18 is open only when the port 12 is closed by the valve 15.

The manifold 6 may also comprise a by-pass channel 19 in the housing 10of the manifold 6. There is a gasket between the housing 10 and thechannel 19. The negative pressure prevailing in the manifold 6 can bemeasured from the channel 19 by connecting the channel 19 to a pressuresensor. The measured negative pressure shows the pressure exerted to thepatient and indicates if there is a blockage in the system.

FIG. 3b shows another example of a manifold 6 in the apparatus 1.Basically the manifold 6 has the same structure as in FIG. 3a . However,each port 12 for the collection container tube may comprise a valve 15comprising two cylinders provided with holes within each other. When theholes are on the same line the valve is open and when the holes are noton the same line the valve is closed. The manifold 6 may be providedwith a no-return valve 31 in the beginning of the channel 19 whichprevents liquid for entering into the channel 19. The downstream end ofthe coupling 13 can be closed by a cap 20 after the collection containertube is released from the coupling 13.

FIG. 3c shows a partial magnification of a manifold of FIG. 3b . Thevalve 15 is closed and air flows in the by-pass channel 18. The air flowin the by-pass channel 18 is denoted by arrow F.

FIG. 3d shows a partial magnification of a manifold of FIG. 3b . Theinner cylinder 33 of the valve 15 is shown as an exploded view, i.e. theinner cylinder 33 has been taken out from its normal place which isinside the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder 33 comprises the holes 37and a first groove 38 which forms the first part of the by-pass channel18. The second part of the by-pass channel 18 is a second groove 39.When the inner cylinder 33 is inside the outer cylinder and the valve 15is closed, the air flow F in the by-pass channel 18 advances from thefirst groove 38 to the second groove 39.

FIG. 4a shows a collection liner 21 as a cross sectional view. Thecollection liner comprises a closed bag portion 22 made of a flexibleplastic film and a handle 23. The handle 23 serves as a handy grip butthere are also functional channels inside the handle 23. The bag portion22 and the handle 23 are attached to each other in such a manner thatinlets 24, 25, 26, which advance inside the handle 23, open into the bagportion but otherwise the bag portion 22 is closed by a seam 48. Theinlet 24 is for vacuum. The vacuum is connected to the collection liner21 through a vacuum port 51 (shown in FIG. 6a ). In the inlet 24 for thevacuum there is a hydrophobic filter 27 and an opening 29. The inlet 25is for a collection container tube. The inlet 25 has a first end towhich the collection container tube is joined and a second end whichopens to the bag portion 22. The inlet 26 is for a solidifying agent orany other chemical additive entering into the collection liner 21.

Each inlet 24, 25, 26 is provided with a back flow preventing means,i.e. a back flow preventing device. The inlet 24 for vacuum comprises ahydrophobic filter 27 which swells if liquid reaches it, thus closingthe flow. The inlet 25 for the collection container tube and the inlet26 for the solidifying agent are surrounded with a thin plastic tubeinside the bag portion 22. The thin plastic tube is fastened to theupper part of the bag portion 22, or it is fastened directly to theinlets. It forms a no-return valve 28. The no-return valve 28 is openonly when the pressure inside the thin plastic tube is higher thanaround it. The thin plastic tube comprises of two parallel films joinedtogether e.g. by welding. This structure confirms that the plastic tubeseals properly without openings in the edges.

There is an ancillary handle 30 at the bottom of the bag portion 22. Theancillary handle 30 may be a slit which is formed under a seam 49 whichcloses the bag portion 22. There may be another seam 50 which isparallel with the above-mentioned seam 49.

FIG. 4b shows a collection liner 21 as a cross sectional view. Thesolution of FIG. 1b differs from the solution of FIG. 1a in that thatthe thin plastic tubes, which form the no-return valves 28, are fasteneddirectly to the inlets 25, 26.

FIG. 4c shows a handle 23 of a collection liner 21 in a perspectiveview. The handle 23 comprises inlets 24, 25, 26. For the sake of claritythe inlet 26 is illustrated without a back flow preventing device, suchas a no return valve, but the back flow preventing device consisting ofa no return valve 28 is shown on the inlet 25. The same kind of noreturn valve 28 may exist in connection with the inlet 26.

The no return valve 28 comprises two thin plastic films 28 a, 28 b oneupon the other. Both films 28 a, 28 b have the upper edge 44 a, thelower edge 44 c and the side edges 44 b, 44 d. The upper edges 44 a ofthe films 28 a, 28 b are joined together and to the inlet 25 e.g. bywelding so that a seam 59 a forms. The respective side edges 44 b, 44 dare also joined together e.g. by welding in such a manner that seams 59b, 59 c form. The lower edges 44 c are not joined together, i.e. thelower end of the no return valve 28 is open. Thus, liquid is able toflow through the valve 28.

The seams 59 b, 59 c enhance the performance of the no return valve 28because the films 28 a, 28 b are tightly together unless the pressureinside the thin plastic tube formed of the films 28 a, 28 b is higherthan around it. Therefore, the collection container 21 is secured insuch a manner that it cannot leak in any case.

FIG. 5a shows one example of the use of the collection liner 21. Thecollection liner is used with a canister 9 having an openable lid 32.The lid 32 is attached to the canister 9 by a hinge 35. The collectionliner 21 is placed inside the canister 9 in such a manner that the inlet24 is connected via opening 29 to the internal space of the canister andthe inlet 25 for the collection container tube extends over the upperedge of the canister 9. After the collection liner 21 is in its place inthe canister 9, the lid 32 of the canister 9 is closed. The canister 9comprises a latch (not shown) for the lid 32. The latch secures that thelid 32 stays closed and sealed until opened.

The lid 32 comprises a gasket 34 which tightens and seals the lid 32 andthe handle 21 against the edge of the canister 9. The gasket 34 may be aseparate gasket or it is an integral part of the lid 32 or the canister9, i.e. the lid 32 or the canister 9 is made of a material which issuitable for sealing, or the lid 32 or the canister 9 and the gasket 34are formed at the same time of different materials. As the inlet 25 ofthe collection container tube extends over the edge of the canister 9,the inlet 25 remains outside the canister 9 when the lid 32 is closed.Thus, the collection container tube is not required to be disconnectedwhile the collection liner 21 is removed from the canister 9.

FIG. 5b shows another example of a collection liner and a canister in aperspective view. The collection liner 21 is used with a canister 9having an openable lid 32. The lid 32 is attached to the canister 9 byhinges 35. It is possible to detach the lid 32 from the canister 9,which makes it easier to clean the canister 9 and the lid 32. Thecollection liner 21 is placed inside the canister 9 in such a mannerthat the inlet 24 is connected via opening 29 to the internal space ofthe canister and the inlet 25 for the collection container tube extendsoutside the canister 9. After the collection liner 21 is in its place inthe canister 9, the lid 32 of the canister 9 is closed. The lid 32comprises at least one latch 201 for the canister 9. The latch securesthat the lid 32 stays closed and sealed until opened.

The lid 32 comprises curved guides 202 inside the lid 32. The curvedguides are preferably concentric as shown in FIG. 2b . The aim of theguides 202 is to prevent the collection liner 21 to stretch too much.

FIG. 6a shows a partial magnification of a collection liner 21 and acanister 9. As seen in FIG. 6a , the inlet 25 of the collectioncontainer tube remains outside the periphery of the canister 9. Thevacuum to the canister 9 is connected via a vacuum port 51. Thesolidifying agent or another additive is fed through a channel 52 to theinlet 26 (shown in FIG. 5).

FIG. 6b shows a partial magnification of another solution comprising acollection liner 21 and a canister 9. As seen in FIG. 6b , the first endof the inlet 25 of the collection container tube is brought outside thecanister 9. There is a recess 203 in the edge of the canister 9 whichconforms to the outer shape of the handle 23. The handle 23 comprises agasket 36 which seals the underside of the handle 23 towards thecanister 9. The vacuum port is in the recess under the inlet 25.

FIG. 6c shows a partial magnification of a collection liner from inside.One can see how the vacuum port 51 and the channel 52 are situated. Thesolidifying agent or another additive is fed through the channel 52 tothe inlet 26. The channel 52 extends through the wall of the canister 9.The inlet 26 tightens against the channel 52, thus enabling the flow ofthe solidifying agent or another additive into the collection liner 21.

FIG. 7a shows an apparatus 1 for collecting liquid from a patient. Someof the canisters 9 are removed so that one can see under the canisters9. There is a strain gauge transducer 47 under each canister 9. Theelectrical resistance of the strain gauge transducer 47 varies due tothe load that is exerted to the transducer 47. On the basis of theresistance the weight of the collection container, i.e. the canister 9or the collection liner 21 can be determined.

FIG. 7b shows one variation of the apparatus 1 in FIG. 7. The apparatus1 comprises a separation wall 204. Connections for docking the canister9 onto the movable cart 3 of the apparatus 1 are behind the separationwall 204.

FIG. 7c shows the apparatus 1 of FIG. 7b without the separation wall204, thus revealing the parts behind the separation wall 204.

The separation wall 204 is provided with an illumination device 205 ateach canister 9. The illumination device 205 may be a LED stripe. Eachillumination device may be controlled separately as to the lightintensity or switching on/off.

FIG. 7d shows a partial magnification of a detail in the apparatus ofFIGS. 7a to 7c . The vacuum port 51 is due to connect to the channel 51b and the channel 52 for the solidifying agent is due to connect to thechannel 52 b. The channels 51 b and 52 b float in respect of the body ofthe apparatus 1. The floating connection makes it possible that thecanister 9 moves freely and therefore, it is possible to weigh thecanister 9 reliably.

The floating connection can be locked in its place when the canister 9is changed by moving a docking lever 58 to a prescribed lockingposition. The docking lever 58 may be replaced by another suitabledevice, such as a latch or like. In this position, the canister 9 can beattached and detached but the collection liner 21 cannot be used. Oncethe canister 9 is attached, the floating connection can be resumed bymoving the docking lever 58 to a prescribed floating position. In thisposition the collection liner 21 can be attached to the canister 9 butthe canister 9 cannot be detached (for further details see FIGS. 7e to7g ).

The channel 51 b may comprise a flow meter measuring a flow value and asecond pressure sensor measuring a second pressure value. A firstpressure sensor measures a first pressure value which corresponds to thepressure value inside the manifold 6. The pressure difference of thefirst pressure value and the second pressure value is calculated. Theflow value has a predetermined range for each pressure difference. Ifthe flow value is under the predetermined range compared to thepredetermined range corresponding the pressure difference in questionthere is a blockage. If the flow value is over the predetermined rangecompared to the predetermined range corresponding the pressuredifference in question there is a leak.

FIG. 7e shows a further detail of the floating connection of thecanister 9. The docking lever 58 comprises a stopper 56 which preventsremoving the canister 9.

FIGS. 7f and 7g show another further detail of the floating connectionof the canister 9. The docking lever 58 comprises a retainer 57 whichprevents putting the collection liner 21 into its place.

FIG. 8a shows a schematic view of a system for feeding solidifying agentor another additive. There are three valves regulating the formation ofthe solidifying agent portion, namely the first valve 210, the secondvalve 215 and the third valve 220. The third valve 220 is in contactwith ambient air A. Between the second valve 215 and the third valve 220there is the solidifying agent cartridge 8 a and a reservoir 8 b whichopens into a tube leading to the collection container 9. In thebeginning the first valve 210 and the third valve 215 are closed. Thesecond valve 215 is partially open. When the first valve 210 is openedthe vacuum starts to draw the solidifying agent out of the reservoir 8 bso that a portion of the solidifying agent is formed between the secondvalve 215 and the third valve 220. In the next step, the first valve 210and the third valve 220 are open and the second valve 215 is stillpartially open. Air flows from the third valve 220 which stops the flowof the solidifying agent and compacts the portion of the solidifyingagent against the second valve 220.

In the following step all the valves are open. The portion of thesolidifying agent is shot then into the collection container 9, thussolidifying the liquid in the collection container. After the portion isshot, the second valve 215 and the third valve 220 are closed in such amanner that the second valve 215 remains partially open as in thebeginning of the process. The first valve 210 is also eventually closedand the cycle to form the portion of the solidifying agent starts allover again.

FIG. 8b shows a schematic view of another system for feeding solidifyingagent or another additive. There are at least two valves, namely a linervalve 225 and an air valve 230, which take part in giving out thesolidifying agent. The liner valve 225 is near to the collectioncontainer 9. The reservoir 8 b receiving solidifying agent from thecartridge 8 a is between the air valve 230 and the liner valve 225. Thepipe of the solidifying agent pipeline, which passes through thereservoir 8 b, may work as an ejector. Such an alternative is describedin connection with FIG. 8 c.

The liner valve 225 and the air valve 230 are open when the solidifyingagent is distributed. The solidifying agent pipeline is in contact withambient air A through the air valve 230 and it is in contact with vacuumthrough the liner valve 225. The pipe beyond the air valve 230 may bechoked at 235 in order to adjust the balance between ambient air andpowder flowing in the pipe.

There may be a flush valve 240 between the reservoir 8 b and the linervalve 225. The flush valve 240 is opened at the end of the powderdistribution when the air valve 230 has been closed. The aim of theflush valve 240 is that the flush valve 240 opens access to ambient airA and the air flow cleans the pipe from the powder residuals.

FIG. 8c shows a detail of FIG. 8b . The pipe 241, which passes throughthe reservoir 8 b, works as an ejector. The lower part of the reservoir8 b may have a shape of an inverted cone as shown in FIGS. 8b and 8c .The pipe 241 has an opening 242 through which air flow grabs thesolidifying agent. The opening 242 is on the underside of the pipe 241because under the pipe 241 the powder is loose and easily movable.

FIG. 9 illustrates schematically a graphical user interface 100 for anapparatus for collecting liquid from a patient. The graphical userinterface may comprise a display unit 4 and/or different selectionmeans, such as buttons, mouse, joystick and/or touch screen, with whichthe user may enter input through the graphical user interface 100 forthe control unit 2. Naturally, the touch screen may be integrated to thedisplay unit 4. The display unit 4 may comprise one or several displayscreens.

The graphical user interface 100 for an apparatus for collecting liquidfrom a patient may comprise at least one first user interface element101 configured to display on a display unit 4 information related to atleast one, preferably at least two, first collection containers 9connected to a first suction channel XX, at least one second userinterface element 102 configured to display on the display unit 4information related to at least one, preferably at least two, secondcollection containers 9 connected to a second suction channel, and athird user interface element 103 configured to display on the displayunit 4 information regarding liquid collected from the patient to atleast one of the collection container 9 such as the amount of liquidcollected from the patient to at least one of the collection containers.According to an embodiment, the third user interface element 103 isconfigured to display on the display unit 4 the total amount of liquidcollected from the patient to the collection containers 9. According toan embodiment, the third user interface element 103 is furtherconfigured to display on the display unit 4 information regarding theliquid provided to the patient, such as the amount of liquid provided tothe patient; and/or the difference between the amount of liquid providedto the patient and the amount of liquid collected from the patient.

According to an embodiment, the first interface element 101 and thesecond interface element 102 may be configured to display a graphicalrepresentation 104 a-104 f of each one of the collection containers 9.Thus, one graphical representation of a collection container 104 a-104 fmay in each case represent one of the collection containers 9,respectively.

According to an embodiment, the graphical interface 100 may beconfigured to receive input from a user in the form of the useraffecting any one of the graphical representations 104 a-104 f of thecollection containers 9. The affecting may comprise pointing a graphicalrepresentation 104 a-104 f, touching a graphical representations 104a-104 f, hovering over a graphical representation 104 a-104 f and/or anyother manner of affecting a graphical user interface known as such.

The graphical interface 100 may be configured to select the collectioncontainer 9, the graphical representation 104 a-104 f of which the userhas affected, for collecting fluid from the patient, in response to theinput from the user. In other words, the graphical user interface 100may send a request for the control unit 2 to connect the selectedcollection container 9 to a corresponding suction channel in response tothe user affecting the graphical representation 104 a-104 f of thecollection container 9.

According to an embodiment, the graphical user interface 100 may beconfigured to select the appearance of each one of the graphicrepresentations 104 a-104 f of the collection containers 9 in such amanner that a difference appearance is selected for a collectioncontainer currently selected, a collection container selectable forcollecting fluid from the patient, and a collection container not readyfor collecting liquid from the patient. For example, a different colour,different thickness and/or transparency of lines and filling used forshowing a collection container 9 on the display unit 4 may be selectedby the graphical user interface 100 and/or the control unit 2 based onwhether the collection container 9 is a collection container currentlyselected, a collection container selectable for collecting fluid fromthe patient, and a collection container not ready for collecting fluidfrom the patient.

According to an embodiment, the graphical user interface 100 may beconfigured to select the appearance of each one of the graphicrepresentations 104 a-104 f of the collection containers 9 to visuallyshow the degree of filling of the collection container 9 in question.For example, the graphical representation 104 a-104 f may display anillustration of a collection container filled to a degree of fillingcorresponding to the degree of filling of the actual, correspondingcollection container 9.

According to an embodiment, the graphical user interface 100 may furthercomprise a selection element 105 for starting collection of fluid fromthe patient to one of said collection containers 9. The graphical userinterface 100 may then be configured to receive input from a user in theform of the user affecting the selection element 105 for startingcollection of liquid. The graphical user interface 100 may be configuredto send a request for starting the collection of liquid from the patientto the selected collection container 9 to a control unit 2 in responseto the user affecting the selection element 105 for starting collectionof liquid on the graphical user interface 100. The graphical userinterface 100 may be configured to only process the input from the useraffecting the selection element 105 and to send the request to thecontrol unit 2 if at least one of the collection containers 9 is readyfor collecting liquid from the patient. According to an embodiment, thegraphical user interface 100 may comprise at least one selection element105 related to the first user interface element 101 and at least oneselection element 105 related to the second user interface element 102,whereby each selection element 105 may be configured to send the requestto the control unit 2 to start collecting fluid from the patient throughthe corresponding suction channel to one of the collection containers 9that are related to the corresponding user interface element 101, 102.

According to an aspect, a method in connection with a graphical userinterface for an apparatus for collecting liquid from a patientcomprises steps needed for executing at least one of the functionsdescribed in connection with the graphical user interface 100.Preferably, the method comprises a combination of steps needed forexecuting at least two of the functions described in connection with thegraphical user interface 100.

The control unit 2 may comprise a computer, a programmable logic or aprogrammable microprocessor, for example. The control unit 2 may beconfigured to cause display of at least one graphical user interface 100as described above.

The apparatus for collecting liquid from a patient may further compriseat least one memory comprising program code comprising one or moremodules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memory forrunning operations. In different embodiments, the program code maycomprise e.g. a system program, an installable application, anapplication plugin, an Internet browser or any other piece of computerprogram code.

According to an aspect, computer code for carrying out at least some ofthe above-illustrated features may be provided. According to anotheraspect, the memory and computer program code may be configured to causethe apparatus for collecting liquid from a patient to carry out at leastsome of the graphical user interface elements 101, 102, 103, 104 and105, and related features illustrated in connection with FIGS. 1 to 9.

FIG. 10 shows an example of one possible graphical interface 100. Thefirst user interface element 101 shows information about suction channelA and the second user interface element 102 shows information aboutsuction channel B. The collection containers 104 a-104 c which arejoined to the suction channel A are illustrated on the first interfaceelement 101 and the collection containers 104 d-104 f which are joinedto the suction channel B are illustrated on the first interface element102. The vacuum level of suction channel A can be read from a scale 106and the vacuum level of suction channel B can be read from a scale 107.

The third user interface element 103 shows in the section 108 the amountof liquid used for irrigation. The section 109 shows the amount ofliquid that has been collected from the operation site. The section 110shows the balance between the readings on the sections 108 and 109.

The main processing included in the display unit 4 a controls thedisplay, audio and touch screen. It communicates with the control unit 2controller over the USB bus. The cart 3 has its own controllercommunicating with the control unit 2. The main processor, the controlunit controller and the cart controller have their own software,memories and peripherals.

1.-6. (canceled)
 7. An apparatus for collecting fluid during a medicalor a surgical operation, wherein the apparatus comprises: positions forcollection containers; collection containers placed on the positions; amanifold having a housing, at least one port for connecting to apatient, more than one port for collection container tubes extendingfrom the manifold to collection containers and a mouth of a by-passchannel in the housing; and a pressure sensor connected to the by-passchannel, the by-pass channel having a choked contact to atmosphericpressure.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the mouth ofthe by-pass channel comprises: a gasket.
 9. The apparatus according toclaim 7, wherein the mouth of the by-pass channel comprises: a no-returnvalve.
 10. A manifold for collecting fluid during a medical or asurgical operation, in combination with a by-pass channel with apressure sensor, wherein the manifold comprises: a housing; at least oneport for connecting to a patient; and more than one port for collectioncontainer tubes extending from the manifold to collection containers anda mouth of the by-pass channel, the by-pass channel being configured toextend from the housing and having a choked contact to atmosphericpressure, the pressure sensor being configured to be connected to theby-pass channel.
 11. The manifold according to claim 10, wherein themouth of the by-pass channel comprises: a gasket.
 12. The manifoldaccording to claim any preceding claim 10, wherein the mouth of theby-pass channel comprises: a no-return valve.
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein the mouth of the by-pass channelcomprises: a no-return valve.
 14. The manifold according to claim anypreceding claim 11, wherein the mouth of the by-pass channel comprises:a no-return valve.
 15. The manifold according to claim any precedingclaim 11, wherein the mouth of the by-pass channel comprises: ano-return valve.